Soil Type: Normal/Loam or Sandy/Light or Chalky/AlkalineSoil Moisture: Moist, but well drained

Other features: all parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested; contact with the sap may cause skin irritation

Deepest purple flowers that have a velvety finish sit on tall upright flowerspikes from late spring to early summer. The combination of the slender green foliage and lavishly coloured flowers is a good one and the result is an incredibly elegant plant that looks superb when planted in bold drifts throughout the border. Mix it with softer purples and rich plums to great effect.

Garden care: Plant shallowly with the upper part of the rhizome sitting on the surface of the soil incorporating a low-nitrogen fertiliser in the planting hole. After planting remove the upper-most third of the leaves to minimise the incidence of wind rock. In exposed areas stake with bamboo canes in early spring.